Improvement in awnings



F. HOHORST.

- AWNING.

No. 183,671. Patented oct.z4,1e7e.

fold one within the other.

UNITED STATES vPATENT ERICE.,

FREDERICK HoHoRs'r, 0E NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN AWNINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,671, dated October 24, 1876; application filed March 15, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK HoHoRsT, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Window-Awnings, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l represents a cross-section of my awning when unfolded for use as a shade. Fig. 2 is a like section thereof, showing the manner of its use as a reflector. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the slat-connections. v

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

My improvement is especially adapted to that class of awnings which are affixed to pivots on opposite sides of a windowframe; and it has for its object to adapt such awnings to a novel use, for which they have been hitherto unknown-namely, to form a reliector of light. -This feature renders my awning particularly advantageous for windows of rooms in which goods are exposed for show.

To this end the awning is hung or affixed to pivots on the opposite sides of a windowframe, as aforesaid, and made detachable in itself from the top part of the frame, while it is connected thereto by means of adjustingropes or other suitable devices, in such a manner that the awning is capable of being unfolded and used in the ordinary manner as a shade, or to be moved bodily from the upper to the lower part of the window, when it forms a reflector, as hereinafter more fully explained.

In the drawing, the letter A designates a window-frame, to which is connected an awning, B, in manner according to my inven tion. This awning is composed of a series of slats, a, which are hung on common pivots b b, situated on opposite sides of the windowframe A, the slats being so arranged as to Each of the slats is provided with a hook, c, by which they are connected together, the hook projecting from the upper and lower edges of the slats, (see Fig. 4,) While the upper edge of the respective slats is provided with an inwardlyprojecting arm, d, by which the whole series of slats may be drawn together, beginning with the lowest slat. To the lowest slat is connected one end of a rope, e, which passes over a pulley, C. attached to the upper part of the window-frame, and the other end of which is tied to a cleat, f, also attached to the frame. By means of this rope e the awning can be folded together, or allowed to unfold. The awning will, in most cases, unfold, when released from the cord e, by its own weight; but, to permit of pulling it down, I attach to the lowest slat a a supplemental rope, g, which is arranged in like manner to the rope e. If desired, the awning may be covered with cloth but I prefer to construct it entirely of slats similar to the slats a, which are made of sheet metal.

It has been common, in putting up this class of awnings which I have just described, to secure the same rmly and permanently to the top part of a window-frame. In contradistinction thereto I affix the awning to the window-frame solely by the pivots b, leaving it detached in itself from the frame. The awning can be moved thus bodily to the lower part of the Window, as seen in Fig. 2, or to any intermediate position; and, to permit of properly adjusting the awning, I attach to the uppermost slat a a rope, h, which passes over the roller C, secured to the window-frame, and is tied to a cleat, i. By loosening this rope h the awning may be allowed to fall by its inherent weight, while, when the rope is tied, it is thereby firmly supported in any position to which it may be adj usted.

When the awning is let down to the position shown in Fig. 2, the light, strikingit from an upper direction, is thereby reiected toward the window, or into the room to which the window may belong, and hence, if articles or goods are exposed in such room, a very beautiful eii'ect is produced. The awning, when lowered, also forms a screen, serving to conceal the interior of a room from persons on the street without debarring light. The slats of the awning to which I have, in this example, applied my invention haveasemicircular outline, as seen in Fig. 3, to adapt the awning to a Gothic window; but they can be made of various other shapes.

Instead of using a rope for the purpose of adjusting the awning to the selected position, other devices may be employed-as, for instance, the slats a may be so hung on their pivots b that by turning thelatter the awning can be swung up or down. This applies, also,

to the rope e, used for folding the slats together.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An awning of theeharacter herein described, adapted to be pivoted to the center of the win- W. HAUFF, GRAS. WAHLERs. 

